ANAHEIM, CA - DECEMBER 28: Saku Koivu (second from left) #11 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates his game winning goal in overtime with Cam Fowler (L) #4 and Jakob Silfverberg (R) #33 against the Phoenix Coyotes at Honda Center on December 28, 2013 in Anaheim, California. The Ducks defeated the Coyotes 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) Staff

ANAHEIM -- Teemu Selanne called it a "big thing" to play in his sixth Winter Olympics but his longtime friend and Ducks teammate Saku Koivu won't be there to compete with him.

Finland naturally made Selanne one of its roster selections when announcing its Olympic team early Tuesday and its coach Erkka Westerlund wanted Koivu along to make another run at a medal after getting bronze in 2010.

Koivu is withdrawing instead, saying his decision is about feeling that he wasn't fit enough following his October concussion for the grueling two-week tournament at the 2014 Sochi Games that will begin Feb. 8.

The veteran center called it one of the toughest choices he has had to make in his playing career. It would have been Koivu's fifth Olympics.

"I thought through it many, many times over the past couple of weeks," Koivu said. "And I felt that with the concussion and missing five weeks of playing, the training at that time was fairly limited.

"Being at 39, all things together, I felt that physically I won't be where I want to be when the tournament comes in and form me to be able to compete against the best players in the world."

Having served as Finland's captain for the most part since 199, Koivu has a decorated international career with medals won in all of his four Olympics -- silver in Lillehammer (1994) and bronze in Nagano (1998), Torino (2006) and Vancouver (2010).

Koivu also has a gold, two silvers and a bronze in four IIHF world championships he has competed in.

"It was a dream for me to be there, but one thing I think is the older you get, you have to be and stay honest with yourself," Koivu said. "I felt that, for me, considering everything, it's a better option of not going and getting the proper practice time, training time, bit of a rest.

"And obviously also where we are as a team. Hopefully we have a chance and do something in the playoffs. Like I said, it wasn't easy at all. I'm hoping that I did the right choice and right decision. You go forward from here."

Selanne said he started consulting with Koivu last year about the Olympics and whether the two would participate.

"Obviously that was a little too far away and you don't think about that too closely," the winger said. "He's a very honest person and he felt that he doesn't have enough energy right now to go play at the top level.

"You got to respect that decision. Obviously, that's a big surprise for everybody."

Koivu has been productive with eight goals and nine assists in 29 games, including six goals and six assists in 17 contests since coming back from his concussion on Nov. 29.

Another key part in pulling out is the position the Ducks are in as a contender for not only the Pacific Division title but potentially the Stanley Cup. Koivu has not been past the second round in his 18 seasons.

Koivu said he told Westerlund of his final intentions during a phone conversation Saturday.

"With the career that I have, I have the privilege and I’m able to make the decision based on how I feel," he said. "Like I said, it's probably one of the toughest decisions that I've had to face so far in my career. But I strongly believe it was the right one."

Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau praised Koivu for opting to put his NHL team above his country in this instance.

"I’m humbled that a guy can do that," Boudreau said. "Because he thinks so much of the possibilities for us that I just hope that I don’t screw up for him making a sacrifice. And I think it’s a huge sacrifice in doing that."

Meanwhile, Selanne said the thought of playing in a sixth Olympic hockey tournament -- which will tie countryman Raimo Helminen for the most appearances -- was one reason why he came back for a 21st and presumably final NHL season.

"Obviously every Olympics is very special," Selanne said. "But obviously to be able to play [in] six is a big honor. We all know how important and how big an event it is. That's what really makes it more special."

Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen will join Selanne in Sochi for his first Olympics. Vatanen, 22, has four goals and five assist in his rookie NHL season.

"We didn't have so many defensemen in the NHL playing," Vatanen said. "It was one of my plans when I came in this season that I would make the Olympics. "Now I get my chance to go there and play with those guys and represent my country."

Boston goalie Tuukka Rask, who might be vying with San Jose's Antti Niemi to be Finland's starting netminder, admitted that Koivu withdrawing is tough news for the national team.

"He’s a leader on and off the ice," Rask said. "Everybody knows that. So it’s tough to see that he's not going to be able to make it. And you know I'm sure he's got good reasons becuase otherwise he most likely would have been there.

"But then it's just an opportunity for the other guys and the younger guys to step up and take that leadership role. I'm sure we have plenty of that."

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